Chapter 357: Questioning the Chancellor
Chapter 357: Questioning the Chancellor
"Old man, let's go."
Lu Yuan tucked his hands into his hand warmers and gave Minister Xing a respectful bow before turning to leave the interrogation room.
It wasn't until he walked out of the Ministry of Punishment's main gate that the Majestic King finally asked in a contemptuous tone, "Smelly boy, did that old Sixth really give you a bowl of ginger soup? If it's true, giving him my lifebound curse doesn't seem so painful after all."
Lu Yuan replied, "You guess."
Majestic King: "..."
Smelly boy, you're deliberately making things difficult for your maternal grandfather, aren't you?
Xian'er, look, that smelly boy is so ungrateful, but I still haven't hit him!
Waaah, I really do care about our two grandsons!
Inside the interrogation room, Xun Qi silently wiped away his tears and regained his calm and elegant demeanor, a stark contrast to his previous emotional breakdown.
He cupped his hands and bowed respectfully to Minister Xing, "Minister Xing, Xun Qi apologizes for intruding upon the Ministry of Punishment at night. I am here to offer my sincere apologies."
Minister Xing replied sternly, "Considering this is your first offense, I will not punish you. You may go."
Xun Qi expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Minister Xing."
After Xun Qi left, Hu Shiye asked puzzledly, "Sir, are you really letting him go just like that?"
Minister Xing said, "Xun Liu has taken all the blame upon himself and didn't mention Xun Qi at all."
Hu Shiye sighed, "But you also let Xun Liu go... We have this confession in our hands, but the person is gone..."
Minister Xing gazed at the heavy snowfall outside.
Lu Yuan, I hope your decision is the right one.
Xun Qi walked out of the Ministry of Punishment, covered in blood.
The secret guard appeared and asked, "Seventh Young Master, are you injured?"
Xun Qi didn't answer but asked instead, "Did you see any suspicious person entering or leaving the Ministry of Punishment just now?"
"Suspicious person?" The secret guard tried to recall, "Does the Majestic King count? But he walked out of the Ministry of Punishment openly. It's strange, though. The Grand Marshal went in alone, but when he came out, the Majestic King was by his side. The Majestic King is indeed elusive."
Xun Qi now had a better understanding of the strength of the Heavenly Might and Celestial Compass.
At the same time, he also belatedly realized the prowess of the Majestic King.
And why Luo San would be 'bought' by Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan always knew how to touch people's soft spots.
If it were me, I would have used Xun Liu's life as a bargaining chip and made a deal to betray my adoptive father.
But Lu Yuan didn't do that.
Transactions have a price, but favors are priceless.
"Third Brother, you won this round."
Upon returning to the Chancellor's Mansion, Xun Qi encountered Xun Yu, who had come to question him angrily.
Xun Yu said coldly, "Xun Qi, where did you go in the middle of the night? My father is facing a serious situation, and he's still detained in the Ministry of Punishment's prison. Do you still have the heart to wander around? Do you know that Xun Liu is also in trouble?"
Xun Qi replied with self-mockery, "Xun Liu, Xun Qi, in your eyes, we have never been brothers. We are merely stepping stones for your rise."
Xun Yu frowned in confusion, "Xun Qi, have you gone mad? Don't think that just because my father is not in the mansion, you can talk to me like this!"
Xun Qi said, "You are the son of my adoptive father. My adoptive father has been detained for many days, and Sixth Brother and I have been running around tirelessly. May I ask what have you, the son, done? If I had known you were so useless, I should have supported Luo San from the start."
Xun Yu was furious!
Xun Qi entered the room and rudely shut the door in Xun Yu's face.
Xun Yu was left with a cold response, "Xun Qi, are you colluding with Luo San? He's just a bastard without a mother. How dare he even think of becoming my father's son? He can forget about entering the Xun family in this lifetime."
Xun Qi ignored him.
He was exhausted.
And worried about Sixth Brother.
Seeing that Xun Qi dared to snub him, Xun Yu's eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent, "Wait until my father is out of prison, and I will make him expel you and Luo San from the family."
-
The next day, Minister Xing went to the prison where Chancellor Xun was detained and informed him about Xun Liu's confession.
"There are obvious loopholes in the testimony. I don't believe Xun Liu is capable of such a plot. I have asked the Majestic King to send Xun Liu to Miaojiang for treatment. When Xun Liu recovers, I will conduct a thorough investigation. In the meantime, please bear with the delay, Chancellor Xun, and stay in the Ministry of Punishment's prison for a few more days."
In the evening, Xun Qi received a stack of secret letters, which he was instructed to deliver urgently to the frontier, one for the Western Army and the rest for the ten major lords of the Western Regions.
Xun Qi opened the letters discreetly, read them, and then replaced them with different ones.
After several days of clear weather in the capital, heavy snow fell once more.
It was cold, but as the saying goes, a heavy snowfall brings a bountiful harvest.
The Chancellor had been detained for so long, and the public outcry over his alleged crimes was growing louder.
Gradually, the public was no longer blindly believing the accusations against the Chancellor.
However, the Ministry of Punishment's delay in pronouncing a verdict also led many people to believe that the Chancellor was wrongfully accused.
Perhaps the crimes were committed by the Chancellor's subordinates, and he was at most guilty of poor judgment and oversight.
In the Golden Hall, the officials pleaded for the Chancellor's release.
"After such a long investigation, there's still no solid evidence. Shouldn't the Ministry of Punishment release him?"
Secretary of War Huo questioned sternly.
Zong Zhengxi sat on the dragon throne, feeling like he was sitting on needles.
Every day, the court was filled with arguments over the Chancellor, but Lu Yuan had instructed him to act as if he couldn't hear them.
In truth, he also wanted to know, had the Chancellor truly committed a crime?
The Chancellor was a veteran statesman who had served three dynasties, led the western expedition for seven years, conquered the Western Regions, and subdued the ten major lords. How could he possibly betray the court?
However, after the misunderstanding with Lu Yuan, he was no longer as confident in his judgment.
The Minister of Revenue said, "Minister Xing, the detention period is usually one day at the shortest and five days at the longest. I've never heard of anyone being detained for a month. Is the Ministry of Punishment trying to abuse its power and twist the law?"
Minister of Rites Xing stopped him, "It's not even been a month yet. According to the laws of our dynasty, multiple crimes can be investigated together, and the suspect can be detained for up to a month."
The Minister of Works spoke solemnly, "There are only three days left. If the Ministry of Justice cannot provide solid evidence and witnesses in three days, we will personally go to the Ministry of Justice to welcome the Chancellor!"
The Minister of Rites stroked his small mustache, wondering which side this political fence-sitter would lean towards.
After the court session.
Minister Xing stopped Lu Yuan, "If we can't produce more evidence of his crimes in three days, the Ministry of Justice will have no choice but to release the Chancellor. As for the matter of him ordering Celestial Dragon to capture you, without Celestial Dragon's testimony, it will be difficult to establish his guilt."
The evidence of crimes collected by Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian from the secret passage had already been acknowledged by Xuan Liu, and if anyone were to be punished, it would be Xuan Liu, not Chancellor Xun.
Lu Yuan left the palace.
The Majestic King, regardless of the wind, rain, scorching sun, or snow, was as usual, holding a candy apple as he waited at the palace gate to greet Lu Yuan after the court session.
"Why so glum? Has someone else pleaded for that old scoundrel Xun again? Those officials in the court have their hearts covered in lard. Don't get angry, I'll go and gouge out his eyes for you, how about that?"
Lu Yuan said nothing and got into the carriage.
The Majestic King scratched his head, "Looks like you're really in a bad mood, not even arguing with me."
Three days passed in a flash.
The next morning, the Chancellor was to be released without charge.
Lu Yuan looked at the snowy sky, his eyes gradually turning cold.
"Husband!"
Meng Qianqian, covered in snow, rushed into the room, her cheeks and nose red from the cold, and her forehead glistening with sweat from running, "Look who's back!"
She lifted her cloak, revealing a hunting eagle she held close to her chest.
The hunting eagle had traveled through the snowstorm day and night without rest, exhausted, and finally collapsed in the snow of the small garden.
A small bundle was tied to the eagle's body.
"Husband, quickly open it and take a look!"
Lu Yuan untied the bundle.
Meng Qianqian held the weakened hunting eagle close, wrapped her cloak tighter, and used her body heat to warm it.
Inside the bundle was evidence of the Chancellor's collusion with the ten feudal lords, his warmongering, private army cultivation, and fabrication of military achievements.
On top of the bundle was a blood-written note from Celestial Dragon.
"The person has been rescued, not by my blood."
"Rescued... Second Aunt's child has been saved..." Meng Qianqian was so moved that she shed tears. But when she saw the last four words, she suddenly smiled through her tears.
Lu Yuan's chest rose and fell rapidly.
The Dragon and Phoenix Twins had been saved, and the ultimate evidence had finally been obtained.
The trial of the Chancellor was finally about to begin.
"Husband..."
Meng Qianqian blinked and stared at him without blinking, "What are you waiting for? Go quickly."
Lu Yuan took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, put away the evidence, and rushed out.
Thinking of something, he suddenly turned back.
Meng Qianqian asked hesitantly, "Did you forget something?"
Lu Yuan walked up to her, stared at her intently, then suddenly cupped her head and kissed her.
Meng Qianqian was completely stunned.
His thumb caressed her soft, red lips, "Wait for me."
Meng Qianqian nodded dumbly, "Mm."
Lu Yuan breathed slightly, "It's cold outside. Don't go out. As for the child, I'll send someone to pick them up."
Meng Qianqian's mind was in a daze, wanting to say, "How did you know I was planning to pick them up..."
Lu Yuan turned and left the house.
Meng Qianqian stood there, holding the hunting eagle.
This kiss... what did it mean...
Lu Yuan went to the Majestic King's courtyard.
The Majestic King was taking a nap.
Lu Yuan tugged at him, "Old man, old man."
The Majestic King snored in his sleep.
Lu Yuan said, "Maternal Grandmother is here."
The Majestic King sat up with a start, "Xian'er is here? Where is she?"
Lu Yuan replied, "At Wu Shan."
The Majestic King's face darkened, "You little rascal!"
Lu Yuan told him about the Dragon and Phoenix Twins' journey, "You should send someone to meet them."
The Majestic King said irritably, "There's no one left!"
"Really?"
Lu Yuan expressed doubt.
The Majestic King exploded, "Even if you kill me, there's no one left!"
Lu Yuan sighed, "I was planning to have you stay at Maternal Grandmother's home for a few days."
The Majestic King said, "... It doesn't matter if I can't stay, but as the descendant of a loyal and valiant hero, I can't bear to see them fall into the hands of despicable thieves."
Lu Yuan asked, "Don't you have anyone left?"
The Majestic King placed his hands on his waist, "Am I not a man? If there's no one left, can't I go myself? Wait and see, the Dragon and Phoenix Twins will have a few strands of sweat on their heads, and I won't be worthy of being Xian'er's husband!"
The Majestic King followed the route left in the blood-written note to meet Celestial Dragon, Yu Zichuan, and the Dragon and Phoenix Twins.
Lu Yuan, with the evidence of the Chancellor's crimes, went to the palace.
The Retired Emperor stared at Lu Yuan intently, "Are you sure the time is right?"
An unprecedented sternness flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes, "The Shangjia's bloodline has been rescued, the secret letter sent to the frontier has been intercepted, and now is the best time."
The Retired Emperor opened the evidence.
Collusion with the Western Regions, warmongering, private army cultivation, fabrication of military achievements... It turned out that the Western Regions had never been reclaimed, and everything was just a grand lie concocted by Xun Xiuyuan and the ten feudal lords.
Xun Xiuyuan had even ceded land to Lou Lan.
"What a loyal and capable minister, what a patriotic general. You've deceived me and all the people of the empire... Xun Xiuyuan, you deserve to die!"
The Retired Emperor was so furious that he felt dizzy.
Even though he had already suspected that the Western Regions campaign might have been fishy, he never imagined the extent of the deception.
He was the emperor in the capital, but his empire had been stolen from him!
"Fu Gonggong!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Draft an edict. Raid the Chancellor's Mansion and execute the Chancellor!"
(End of Chapter)
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